Coating apparatus



Oct. 10, 1944. Y. BOUGET 1 2,360,037

comma APPARATU Filed May 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR K4. BOUGET ATTORNEY comma APPARATUS I Filed May 8, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR VA. BOUGHT :Y\9w/ q A TTORNEY Patented Oct. 1-0, 1944 um'rsp STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,360,037 COATING APPARATUS Yves A. Bouget, West Orange,

N. .L, assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 8, 1943, Serial No. 486,245 16 Claims. (Cl. iii-59.4)

This invention relates to coating apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for tinning copper conductors.

In the coating of strands, such as copper wire used in communication arts,.with a liquid material such as tin, the chief problem has long been that of removing the excess coating material from the strand or wire after it emerges from the coating bath.

An object of the invention is to provide a coating'apparatus for strands which is simple in considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of the coating apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the coating apparatus, portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the coating apparatus, portions thereof being broken away;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary detail views of the supporting cone illustrating successive steps in the forming of the wiping die;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the supporting cone with. the wiping die in place;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the supporting cone.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed to Fig. 1, where a strand l0,.which in the present instance is a copper wire to be used as an electrical conductor, is advanced longitudinally by suitable means (not shown) from a supply also not shown, through a coating unit ll in which there is a bath of material such as molten or liquid tin. The details of this structure are not believed to be essential for a clear understanding of the invention, the major features of which are embedded in a wiping unit indicated generally at l2; Broadly, the wiping unit includes a supporting cone l4 about which I a wiping die I5 is formed of flexible tape-likematerial such as impregnated paper Hi, the latter being removed from a supply I! formed into the wiping die l5, and as the portions of the wiping die are renewed by, fresh material, the used portions thereof are based upon an idler roll l'l around and between advancing rolls l8 and I9 and finally upon a takeup reel 20.

Considering now the detailed structure of the wiping unit l2, attention is directed to Figs. 2 and 3. Here a frame structure 22 is shown for supporting the various parts previously described. For example, a base 23 of this structure has an angle member 24 mounted thereon which supthe forward end of which has a guide or die 26 for the strand or wire it mounted thereon. Suitable means is also provided in this structure to rotatably support the idler roll l1 and the driving rolls l8 and ill on theirrespective shafts 21 and 28. Interengaging gears 29 and 30 are fixedly mounted upon the shafts 21 and 28 and, through the rotation of ports a rod 25,

one of the shafts, for example, shaft 28, through.

the aid of a crank or handle 3|, fixedly, mounted thereon, or by any other suitable driving means, both shafts with their rolls will be rotated. This rotation is in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively, for the shafts '21 and 28, to cause the rolls to pull the material is from the cone. The takeup reel 20 is rotatably mountbracket 34 carried by the and through the aid of a ed upon a suitable frame 'structure 22,

I beltand pulley connection 35, between the shaft 'angle member.

28 and a shaft 36 for the takeup reel, the latter may be rotated to wind the material thereon.

It is apparent that during the building up of the 7 material on the takeup reel, there will be a tendency for more rapid advancement of the material at the takeup reel than at the rolls l8 and I9. This may be compensated for, however, through the belt 35, which may be sufficiently loose to allow for slippage.

Attention is now directed to the cone structure, the support for the die l5 formed of the tape material It. Referring now to Figs' '7, 8 and 9, it will be apparent that the supporting cone I4 is hollow, providing a passageway 38-for the longitudinal advancement of the strand therethrough. At the large end of the cone a threaded member 39, which is also centrally apertured, serves to rigidly mount the cone upon the angle member 24 by being positioned within an aperture of the latter, the rearmost head of the threaded member engaging the rear wall of the The cone support is cut away, as at 40, providing access to the interior of the cone to facilitate in the original threading of the wiping die 15. Another the wire or strand therethrough. An adjustable guide or locating element 42, having a V-shaped forward portion 43 with material controlling surfaces 44 and 45, is movably disposed in a longitudinally extending groove 46 in the upper portion of the cone, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Through the aid of a screw 4! threadedly disposed in the cone at the groove 46 and an elongate aperture 48 in the guide or locating element 42, the latter may be adjusted longitudinallyof the cone to cause variations in the formation of guide and locating element 50, having features similar to the element 42, is disposed for longitudinal adjustment in a groove Si in the under surface of the cone M. The element 50 also has a V-shaped portion 52 with material guidin surfaces 53 and 54. Through the aid of a screw 55 threadedly disposed in the supporting cone at the groove i and an elongate aperture 56 in the element 50, longitudinal adjustment of the latter is made possible to also function in causing variations in the wiping die.

At this time attention is directed toa retaining element or member 58, which is in the form of a tension spring extending about the curved portion of the cone adjacent the center thereof, with its ends fixed to pins or the like indicated at 59.

Considering now the forming of the die 5 of the material i6 about the cone, let it be understood that the supply of material I! from a reel 60 is free to be removed as desired. To avoid unnecessary removal of the material and to hold the supply end thereof under suflicient tension, suitable brake means is provided. It will be noted that the supply reel is rotatably' supported at GI and that a stationary membei 62 is provided with a plurality of screws or threaded elements 63 (Figs. 2 and 3), to cause variation in the braking force at the supply reel through the adjustment of a stationary disc 64 positioned to be engaged by a brake disc 65, of suitable material, rotatable with the reel 60. Thus, as the material is withdrawn from the supply on the reel it will be under tension controlled by the brake means described through the adjustment .of the screws 63.

However, in forming the die IS a sufiicient amount of the material may be removed, in excess of that needed for the die, for the free wrapping of the material about the cone. In forming the die IS, the material leading from the supply is passed over the. top of the cone to the right side thereof (Fig. 4), around the cone and beneath the first portion of the material. This completes one loop or convolution of the material about the cone. However, another complete convolution of the material is formed about the cone within the first convolution. Fig. 5 illustrates the beginning of this second convolution, while Fig. 6 illustrates the completion of the two convolutions of the material, the second being within that .of the first. After these convolutions of the material l6 have been completed, the end portions may be drawn suitably tight over the end of the cone, and due to the contour of the cone and through the location of the elements 42 and 50, the material forming the die l5 will assume a given contour with an entrance aperture uniform 'and of a given size. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the portionof the material forming the die I5 is located forwardly on the cone to position the entrance end of the die beyond the end of the cone. The element 42 aso csv cooperates in controlling the upper portions of the material or those portions crossing each other at the top of the cone, to also assist in locating the die relative to the end of the cone. This entire formation may be made with the spring or holding element 58 in the position shown, the material being fed beneath the spring at the start of the formation of the die and at the completion thereof. If desired, one end of the spring may be formed into a hook to be released from its pin 59 during the forming of the die I5.

The location of the elements 42 and in controlling the position of the die I5 with respect to the cone also causes variation in the contour of the die, depending upon that desired for the strand being coated. For example, the adjustment of the elements 42 and 56 toward the free end of the cone, will move the entrance end of the die a greater distance from the cone and decrease the size of its aperture or entrance Bl. In a like manner, movement of the elements 42 and 53! away from the small end of the cone will cause an increase in the die aperture for larger strands. This variation also is to be considered in determining the amount of excess material to be removed from the strand, it being understood that with the die l5 tight about the strand, but a small amount of coating material will be allowed to remain on the strthe opening in the die the gzeahl will be the amount of coating material allowed to remain on the strand.

Upon considering now the operation of the apparatus, let it be understood that the die I5 has been formed and the strand l0 threaded through the apparatus. During the continuous advancement of the strand [0, it receives a coating of material from the unit H, is advanced through the guide 26, and enters the die l5 formed by the material l8. During this advancement, the excess material is wiped from the strand by the die [5 and it will be apparent that the contour of the die will assist in carrying this excess material away from the strand and the aperture of the die. During the continued advancement of the strand, the material of the die may be renewed or repeatedly formed of new material through the actuation of the handle 3|, to cause rotation of the rolls l8 and I9 to draw the material forming the die about the roll l1 and eventually to the takeup reel 20. During material of the tape this advancement of the material, taking used portions from the die and replacin these portions with new material, the die does not change its 'contour and the aperture of the die is maintained constant through the contour of the cone and the assistance of the guides or locating elements 42 and 50. If desired, a constant rotating means may be connected to the shaft 28 and in this manner provide a continued renewal of the material of the die l5. With the IS there is sufllcient rigidity in the contour of the die, and due to the manner in which this material passes around the strand,

the entrance opening of the die is uniform.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

' support through the core to remove ible tape material,

liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a hollow which the core travels having a substantially conical outer surface, and a member supported by the outer surface of the element, conforming thereto and extending therebeyond and about the core to remove the excess coating material from the core.

2. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a die of flexible sheet material formed about the core,to remove the excess coating material from the core, means to support the die at the core, and means to remove used portions of the material from the die and supply unused material thereto 3. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a flexible tape material, of the tape material intermediate its ends formed about the core to remove the excess coating material from the core.

4. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a flexible tape material, a die composed of a portion of the tape material intermediate its ends formed about the core to remove the excess coating material from the core, and means to cause longitudinal movement of the tape material to remove the original portion forming the die and cause an unused portion of the tape material to form the die.

5. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired means to remove the excess coating material from ible-tape material, a die composed of a portion of the tape. material intermediate its endsformed about the core to remove the excess coating material from the core, and a-support for the tape material forming the die formed to cause the die to flare outwardly from the entrance end thereof.

6. In an apparatus for coating advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess 01 and a die composed of a portion the core comprising a flexa longitudinally terial forming the die formed to cause the die to flare outwardly from the entrance end thereof, and means to cause longitudinal movement of the tape material on the support to change the portion thereof forming the die.

8. In an apparatus'for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid..coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a flexible tape material, a die composed of a. portion of the tape material intermediate its ends formed about the core to remove the excess coating material from the core, a support for the tape material forming the die formed to cause the die to flare outwardly from the entrance end thereof, and means mounted on the support to control the size of the entrance end of the die.

9. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coatingmaterial to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a flexible tape material, a die composed of a portion of the tape material intermediate its ends formed about the core to remove the excess coating material from the core, a support for the tape material forming the die formed to cause the die to flare outwardly from the entrance end thereof, means to cause longitudinal movement of the tape material, and a guide for the material during its movement to maintain the contour of the die.

10. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating'material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a flexible tape material, a die composed of a portion of the tape material intermediate its ends formed about the core to remove the excess coating material from the core, a support for the tape material forming the die formed to cause the die to flare outwardly from the entrance end thereof, and means to vary the location of the die on the support to vary the size of the entrance end of the die.

11. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally -advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating that desired, means to remove the excess coating that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a flexible tape material, a die composed of a portion of the tape material intermediate its ends formed about the excess coating material from the core, a support for the tape material 7 forming the die formed to cause the die to flare outwardly from the entrance end thereof, and means to hold the tape material at the support and including the die against displacement.

'7. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess .coating material from the core comprising a flexa die composed of a portion intermediate its ends formed the excess coating maof the tape material about the core to remove terial from the core, a support for the tape mamaterial to the core in excess 01 material fromthe core comprising a hollow support, for the advancement of the core therethrough, having an outer surface flared outwardly from the entrance end of the support, a flexible tape material having a portion thereof formed about the core, at the entrance end of the support the contour of the said surexcess coating into a die assuming face and adapted to remove the material from the core.

. for the advancement of 12. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprisingfia, hollow support, the core therethrough, having an outer surface flared outwardly from the entrance end of the support, a flexible tape material having a portion thereof formed about the core, at the entrance end of the support, into a die assuming the contour of the said surface and adapted to remove the excess coating mate- -rial from the core, and means to vary the position of the dieon the support to vary the entrance end of the die.

' 13. In an apparatus advancing core and having means to for coating a longitudinally apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess i that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a supply flexible tape material, a die, composed of a portion of the tape material formed about the core, to remove the excess coating material from the core, a takeup reel for the material, and means to cause longitudinal advancement of the material from the supply to the takeup reel to cause variation in the material forming the die free of variations in the contour of the die.

14. In apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a supply of flexible tape material, a die, composed of a portion of the tape material formed about the core, to remove the excess coating material from the core, a takeup reel for the material, means to cause longitudinal advancement-of the material.

from the supply to the takeup reel to cause variation in the material forming the die tree of variations in the contour of the die, and means to cause rotation of the takeup reel.

15. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a supply of flexible tape material, a die, composed of a 190'!- tion of the tape material formed about the core, to remove the excess coating material from the core, a takeup reel for the material, means to cause longitudinal advancement of the material from the supply to the takeup reel to cause variation in the material fanning the die free of variations in the contour of the die, and means driven by the advancing means to rotate the takeup reel.

16. In an apparatus for coating a longitudinally advancing core and having means to apply a liquid coating material to the core in excess of that desired, means to remove the excess coating material from the core comprising a supply of flexible tape material, a die, composed of a portion of the tape material formed about the core, to remove the excess coating material from the core, a takeup reel for the material, means to cause longitudinal, advancement of the material from the supply to the takeup reel to cause variation in the material forming the die free of variations in the contour of the die, and means to create a tension in the material.

YVES A. BOUGET. 

